The FINAL 9 February 2018 AIGE Inception and Implementation Meeting Annotated Agenda

INCEPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION MEETING
ASEAN INSTITUTE FOR GREEN ECONOMY (AIGE)

6 – 8 February 2018
MICC 2 Myanmar International Convention Center 2, Nay Pyi Taw

WITH

COORDINATION  AND SUPPORT BY THE FOLLOWING UNION MINISTRIES,

RUPBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR

Foreign Affairs; Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation;  Home Affairs; Information; Religious Affairs & Culture;  Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation; Transport & Communication;  Electricity and Energy;  Labor, Immigration & Population; Industry; Commerce; Education; Health & Sports; Planning and Finance; Construction; Social Welfare, Relief & Resettlement; Hotels & Tourism; International Cooperation.

and GEGG (not for profit) Association.

SUPPORT BY

British Embassy Yangon; Asian Development Bank;  United Nations Development Programme ; UN Environment; World Wildlife Fund, GEGG (not for profit) Association Members & Associates

Annotated Agenda

INTRODUCTION OF CONCEPT

The concept for the ASEAN Institute for Green Economy, AIGE, was articulated to serve as a Centre of Excellence to promote policies and practices to address green economy and green growth opportunities, with an aim to increase and improve sustainable development, conservation and efficient use of natural resources, particularly energy, water and biodiversity, and transition to low carbon technologies and to address climate change. The Institute shall: Enhance awareness of programs on green technologies and management practices and assist interested ASEAN Member States in research and knowledge-sharing of green technologies and management practices including through joint research, education and training.

This visionary concept was endorsed by ASEAN Heads of States / Governments at the 25th. ASEAN Summit on 12 November 2014, Nay Pyi Taw

On 10 September 2017, the AIGE Terms of Reference was reviewed and approved by the ASEAN relevant bodies consulted following a three year process.

The Purpose of the Institute stated in the AIGE ToR Article 2, reiterates and prescribes the Concept endorsed at the 25th ASEAN Summit

The AIGE has the potential to be a mechanism for fostering innovative cooperation to address fast emerging and converging challenges and opportunities for sustainable, resilient and inclusive social economic development that would prudently conserve and utilize natural resources for the benefits of current and future generations.

The AIGE ToR Articles  prescribe  the role of the Green Economy Green Growth (not for profit) Association in providing support for the technical and scientific personality as well as management,  administrative  and office facilities  for the establishment and operations of the AIGE.  

The Inception of the AIGE contributed to the ASEAN Golden Jubilee Year and celebrate the 20th. Anniversary of Myanmar joining ASEAN. The AIGE is the first ASEAN Charter Entity to be established in Myanmar.

The Implementation components provided important advice and inputs to Scope the development of the AIGE Collaborative Work Programme with the goal to spur innovations, cooperation, holistic and integrated options for policy, strategy and applications. It addressed fast emerging global trends in the transition towards green and clean energy, the pervasive impacts of climate change, including on environmental health; the conserving and efficient use of natural resources, including in particular minimizing, managing  and conversion  of wastes into  renewable energy and materials. The important cross-cutting determinants of environmental health  was emphasized and highlighted in all the sessions  

The Collaborative Work Plan will foster public private partnerships and lay the foundation towards the Purpose of the AIGE as mandated in Article 2 of the Terms of Reference.

AIGE INCEPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONAL FRAMEWORK

The Provisional Framework draws upon the Draft AIGE Work Plan Framework presented at the ASEAN Inter-Secretariat Retreat, Feb 2017, Bali and the six AIGE Coordination Meetings organized by Myanamr Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, participated by the Ministries of Culture, Education, Electricity and Energy, Planning and Finance, Information, Home Affairs, Health and Sports., and GEGG (not for profit) Association.

 

6 February 2018  

AIGE INCEPTION

LAUNCHING THE AIGE

MICC 2 Myanmar International Convention Center 2,

Nay Pyi Taw

 

08:00 REGISTRATION

09:00 – 10:00 OPENING & INCEPTION SESSION

  • Inaugural Keynote H.E U Myint Swe, Vice President Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
  • Welcome Speech H. E. U Ohn Win , Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Republic of the Union of Myanmar and
  • Delivering the Message of H.E Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor.
  • Special Address by Erik Solheim, UN Environment Executive Director and

UN Under-Secretary General.

 

  • Photo Session

 

 

  • 10:00 – 10:30 COFFEEF BREAK

 

 

 

  • 10:30 – 12:30 SESSION 1. EMINENT PERSONS ROUNDTABLE DIALOGUE: ASEAN CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREEN ECONOMY GREEN GROWTH

 

 

The Roundtable is envisaged to promote a free and frank dialogue on emerging global and regional trends and the policies, strategies and practices that would draw upon e.g. , state of the art technologies, traditional wisdom, management approaches, economic instruments, financial tools, normative measures, institutional mechanisms , human resource  development,  innovative partnerships to address fast emerging and converging challenges and importantly to seize new opportunities with alacrity.

The imperative need for integrated, holistic and transformative approaches that would change social economic development paradigm for greening ASEAN economies will be advanced and discussed.

 

CHAIR H.E U Win Khaing, Union Minister for Electricity & Energy, Myanmar.

 

  • Keynote Speaker: Prof Dr Yongyuth Yuthavong Former Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Science and Technology, Research, Public Health, Social Development, and former Minister of Science & Technology, Thailand.  Past President, Thai Academy of Science and Technology and the first Director of the National Science and Technology Development Agency. Graduated with D.Phil. degree in Organic Chemistry, University of Oxford.

 

  • Eminent Speakers:
  • Prof. Datuk Dr. Raduan Che Rose, President/Chief Executive Officer, Majlis Professor Negara, Prime Minister’s Department, Putrajaya , Malaysia 
  • Ambassador (Retd.) Ms. Kang Siew, Senior Fellow, RSIS Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. (TBC)

 

  • Rapporteur:  GEGG

 

12:30– 13:30 LUNCH HOSTED BY GEGG (not for profit)   ASSOCIATION AT MICC 2

AIGE IMPLEMENTATION

DEVELOPING THE AIGE COLLABORATIVE WORK PROGRAMME

Work in Progress

                                 

 

  • 13:30 to 13:40 Brief introduction by GEGG

 

 

  • 13:40 – 15:40  Session 2. Component Mandate. Improving Green and Blue Sustainability and Productivity (Discussion Paper to be prepared by ADB)

 

At the 16th ACCSM Preparatory Meeting held in Langkawi, Malaysia on 11-12 April, 2011, nine projects, including Green Productivity Improvement, were proposed. These were adopted at the first ASEAN+3 Heads of Civil Service Meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 4 October, 2012.  Myanmar agreed to host the ASEAN Green Productivity Seminar in 2014 during its Chairmanship of the 17th ACCSM. This was organized by Myanmar Union Civil Service Board, UCSB Training Center at Pyin Oo Lwin 17 to 21 March 2014. The 22-page Outcome document (22 March 2014) was adopted.

The issues that would be presented and discussed would include :  Valuing Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services; Management;  Natural Resource “ Green” Accounting, Development of Valuation  Protocols / Guidelines;   Payment for Ecosystem services , Losses; Preventing and minimizing land based pollution and alien invasive species; Green horticulture / agriculture, with  emphasis on  value/higher nutrition fruits and vegetables with green production techniques (e.g. crop nutrients, pests, water, energy); Minimizing Post Harvest ies; Improving sustainability and productivity of Rivers and Lakes;  Integrated Aquaculture and Agriculture,; Integrated Land and Sea management and conservation.

 

 Chair by H.E Huub Buise, Deputy Ambassador & & Head of Economic Development, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Myanmar

Speakers/ Discussants:

  • Doley Tshering, Regional Technical Adviser, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, UNDP – Global Environmental Finance, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Bangkok Regional Hub;
  • Hanna Helsingen, Manager, WWF Green Economy Programme;;
  • Michael Jeger, Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Investigator , Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London
  • Prof Dr.Khin Thida Myint, Professor and Head, and Dr. Saw Hto  Lwi  Htoo, Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, Yezin Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture , Livestock and Irrigation, Republic of the Union of Myanamr
  • Dr.Grant Connette, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA, Conservation Ecology Center Myanmar Programme.
  • Dr. Lam Hung Son,  Head, Technical Support division, Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Regional Flood Management  and Mitigation Center, Phnom Phen, Cambodia.
  • Rapporteur: Mr.Martin Cosier, Chief Technical Adviser, UNDP Myanamr

 

  • 14.30 -15.30 Discussion

 

 

  • 15:40 – 16:00 COFFEE BREAK

 

 

  • 16:00 – 18:00  Session 3 .Component Mandate. Transition towards Low-carbon, Renewable and Clean Energy.  Discussion Paper prepared by Confederation of Indian Industries Green Business Center, CII GBC.

 

The provisions of the Paris Accord and the 2015 G7 Summit Leaders Endorsement of a decarbonized global economy   the course of this century and the UN SDG s would provide the context for the presentations and discussions.  In addition, the ASEAN Center for Energy and the Hanoi Action Plan (HPA) on Energy Cooperation  (2016 – 2025) under the ASEAN Vision 2020 with the six fundamental Programme Areas: 1) ASEAN Power Grid (APG); 2) TransASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP); 3) Energy Efficiency and Conservation; 4) New and Renewable Sources of Energy; 5) Coal and Clean Coal Technologies; and 6) Regional Energy Outlook, Energy Policy and Environmental Analysis, will be taken into account.
The focus of the AIGE Component will be on expeditious transition to low carbon, renewable and next generation of clean energy. Supporting Low carbon, Clean Energy Buildings and Infrastructures; Promoting & Enabling Technologies, incentives and normative measures  for minimizing and removing carbon from fossil fuels use; Catalyzing  policies, technologies, economic incentives and financial mechanisms  to increase renewable energy  use; Researching, developing, promoting energy capture & harvesting beyond conservation & efficiency; Researching and enabling, research and development  to accelerate next generation of clean energy The topic of  converting wastes  e.g from landfills  and wastes treatment plants and the advanced technologies for removal of H2S and converting into methanol (MeOH) or dimethyl ether (DME) will be presented.

Chair Mr. Wutipong Apichonnabutr, Dept of Alternate Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand, Co-Chair by Col. Thoung Win ( Retd. ) , Chairman , Energy and Renewable Energy Committee , Myanmar Engineering Society

  • Keynote Speaker:. K S Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII-Godrej GBC, Hyderabad, India
  • Principal Speaker / Discussant: Prof. Devinder Mahajan, Graduate Program Director Chemical & Molecular Engineering, Director, Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology (I-GIT)  Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC), Stony Brook University, US;
  • Speakers / discussants
  • Col. Thoung Win, Myanmar Engineering Society,
  • Dr. Scott Q. Turn, Hawaii Naturals Energy Institute,  University of Hawaii, Manoa ;
  • Dr. Sudhir Sharma, Programme management officer, Climate Change, UN Environment,  Bangkok

 

19:00 WELCOME RECEPTION / DINNER HOSTED BY UNION MINISTER OF NATURAL REOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR AT GRAND AMARA HOTEL

 

7 February 2018

 

 

  • 08:30 – 10:30  Session 4 Component Mandate. Protecting and improving Environmental Health

 

(Discussion Papers to be prepared by WHO UNEP; and Thailand Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, EHT, at Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok)

 

Objective:

1) To take a stock of environment and health status in ASEAN countries as well as of actions so far taken; 2) To debate national and regional strategies to achieve SDGs by promoting environment and health linkages as part of the ASEAN Framework for Action 2025, and 3) To provide input to the preparation of the AIGE Multi-year Collaborative Work Programme.

Background:

Nearly 25 percent of all deaths and the total disease burden can be attributed to environmental factors. 58 per cent of the cases of diarrheal disease due to lack of access to clean water and sanitation and it is reported that over 100,000 die annually from exposure to asbestos. WHO clearly mentioned about regional disparities in the burden of disease from air pollution. Globally, about 3.7 million premature deaths were attributable to ambient air pollution and the Western Pacific region and South East Asian region accounted for 1.67 and 0.94 million deaths, respectively. The evidence signals the urgent need for concerted action to address air pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. Most governments are unprepared to address environmental threats to health that require close collaboration between health and environment ministries and policy measures involving other sectors such as transport, energy, housing, agriculture and trade.

Environmental health risks are long-standing, such as unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and lack of appropriate waste management systems. Emerging threats are increasing, such as transboundary air pollution including short-lived climate pollutants, illegal shipment and dumping of waste including exposure to toxic and hazardous chemicals, combating climate change and protecting health of the working population. The Regional Forum on Environment and Health in Southeast and East Asian Countries, established in 2004, with the vision of its original charter was “to safeguard and enhance health and the environment, thereby promoting development that reduces poverty” and the Regional Action Plan on Healthy ASEAN Lifestyles adopted in March 2002 will provide the context for the presentations and discussions.

This session will focus on strengthening existing mechanisms for sharing knowledge, promoting joint research, education and training on integrating environment, health and development, building on existing mechanisms in ASEAN region and some current and future actions taken by member countries to promote environment and health within a context of ASEAN Framework. This will also provide opportunities to discuss nationally concerted regional priorities as well as how these could be supported by the Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Health and Environment; and the Integrated and Holistic AIGE Collaborative Platform that is envisaged to emanate from the Inception and Implementation Meeting.

Chair : Ms. Kakuko Nagatani-Yoshida, Coordinator for Chemicals, Waste and Air quality, UN Environment Asia and the Pacific Office and Co-Chair Dr.Khin Maung Lwin , Steering Committee Member, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. Geneva and Former Director, Myanmar Ministry of Health.

  • Introduction Ms Kakuko Nakatani – Yoshida
  • Keynote Speaker / Principal Discussant
  • Dr.(Mrs)  Jutamaad Satayavivad
    Deputy Director, Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology
    Faculty of Science, Mahidol University  and Associate Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok.
  • Speakers / Discussants:
  • Dr Nicole De Paula, Executive Director, Global Health Asia Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Dr Khin Phyu Phyu, Director National Poison Control Centre, and  Dr. Hling Myat Thu, Deputy Director General, Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sport,  
  • Dr. Badri Thapa, WHO  Team Leader Malaria, Environmental Health, Yangon.
  • Rapporteur TBA

 

  • 10:30- 11:00    Discussion

 

COFFEE SERVED

 

  • 11:00 – 13:00 Session 5. Component Mandate. Capacity Building, Training, Education, Research for Green Economy and Disaster Risks Reduction and Recovery  Discussion Paper prepared by Asian Institute for Technology, Thailand with Inputs by UNDP Myanmar.

 

 

A global inflection point has been reached. A sustainable future will require a paradigm shift advanced by a new generation of leaders capable of addressing the enormous challenges and seizing the opportunities. The fast emerging and converging of social, economic, health, and environment stemming from climate change, rapid urbanization and ecological degradation– which transcend borders and boundaries and cut holistically across academic disciplines, need to be addressed collaboratively. Holistic and integrated  education, training and research  for promoting and supporting sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive development and geeing of economies is necessary. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Accord on Climate Change are tw key global consensus that will provide the context for the presentations and discussions. In addition, the following are also important references. The 2015 ASEAN Community Roadmap for a clean and green environment and to promote sustainable development through environmental education and public participation; and  the 2014 -2018 ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (AEEAP) .The topics that would be presented and discussed would include: Develop Vocational and corporate training modules and materials with focus on integrated and holistic greening technologies, economics and management practices; Virtual network of openly accessible data bases, including spatial data developed with GIS and remote sensing; Knowledge bank (with focus on digital) of teaching resource (e.g. curricula; handbooks and guidelines) on state of the art technologies, management practices and traditional knowledge; Network of Green and Healthy University Campuses; network of research Institutions with focus on translational research to support and enable  green economy  

Capacity building, education and training are critically important for improved understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of exposure, vulnerability and hazard characteristics; the strengthening of disaster risk governance, including national platforms; accountability for disaster risk management; preparedness to “Build Back Better”; recognition of stakeholders and their roles; mobilization of risk-sensitive investment to avoid the creation of new risk; resilience of health infrastructure, cultural heritage and work-places; strengthening of international cooperation and global partnership re topics that will guide the Session. The role of green economy, growth, infrastructures will be a dimension for consideration and discussion.

 

 

CHAIR.  H.E Ambassador Dr.Luan Thyu Duong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

 

  • Keynote Speaker / Principal Discussant.. Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, President AIT, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Keynote Speaker / Principal Discussant Ambassador (Retd.) Ms. Kang Siew, Senior Fellow, RSIS Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

 

  • Keynote Speaker & Principal Discussant Dr. Ko Ko Naing, Director General, Disaster Management Dept. (former Relief & Resettlement Department).
  • Principal Speakers / Discussants:
  • Professor Chao Zhang, Sustainability Science and Public Policy, School of Economics and Management, Sustainable Development & New-Type Urbanization Think Tank,  Tongji University, China;  
  • Ms Karuna  Singh, Regional Director Earth Day Network South Asia and Country Director, India.;
  • Rapporteur: Mr. Shawn Kelly, Asian Institute of Technology. Thailand.

 

  • 13:30 – 14: 30 Discussions

 

13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH

 

Open ended drafting group to draft AIGE Inception and Implementation Meeting Summary Highlights Report

 

8 February 2018

 

09:00 – 12:00 SESSION 6. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON DRAFT  AIGE Inception and Implementation Meeting Summary Highlights Report

 

Chair H.E Ambassador Eduardo JR Kapounana, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Republic of Union of Myanmar , Co-Chair E. Vuthy  Deputy Secretary General , General Secretariat for National Council for Sustainable Development, Cambodia

  • U Hla Maung Thein, Chairman, Director General, Environmental Conservation Dept. Ministry of Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation. “ Myanmar Initiatives to Approach Green Development”

 

  • Dr. Nay Htun, GEGG  presentation of Draft AIGE Meeting Summary Highlights Report

 

  • Principal Discussant,  Mr. Ky-Anh Nguyen, Director, Sustainable Development Directorate, ASEAN Socio-cultural Community Department, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta. Indonesia,

 

DISCUSSIONS

 

  • Rapporteurs U Zaw Naing, Managing Director, Mandalay Technology.

 

Outcome will be circulated for further comments / inputs, within two weeks

12:00 – 13:00 LUNCH

 

 

  • 13:30 – 15:00  SESSION 7. WAY FORWARD

 

 

  • CHAIR. H.E Dr. U Set Aung, Deputy Minister for Finance and Planning, Myanmar.
  • Principal Discussant H.E Ambassador Ong Kong Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman; Director, Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Former ASEAN Secretary General
  • Rapporteur

 

 

  • Session 7.1. Institutional and Interim Organizational Arrangements 2with Reference to AIGE TOR.

 

 

  • Session 7.2 Resource Mobilization

 

An unconventional innovative Resource Facility will be crafted to support the AIGE Collaborative Work Programme with financial, human and in-kind resources from bi-lateral, multi-lateral, national, international public, private sector sources and academia.

 

The Resource Facility is envisaged to have for example, the following components:  Strategic Framework; Fund Capitalization; Fund Administration; Fund Operation, Fund Implementation, with goals and outputs.

 

  • 15:00 SESSION 8. CLOSING .

 

Closing Keynote by H.E Dr. Myo Thein Gyi,, Union Minister for Education, Myanmar.

 

CLOSE OF AIGE INCEPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION MEETING

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